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Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 05: May 1660 by Samuel Pepys
page 19 of 50 (38%)
The weather bad; we were sadly washed when we came near the shore, it
being very hard to land there. The shore is, as all the country between
that and the Hague, all sand. The rest of the company got a coach by
themselves; Mr. Creed and I went in the fore part of a coach wherein were
two very pretty ladies, very fashionable and with black patches, who very
merrily sang all the way and that very well, and were very free to kiss
the two blades that were with them. I took out my flageolette and piped,
but in piping I dropped my rapier-stick, but when I came to the Hague, I
sent my boy back again for it and he found it, for which I did give him
6d., but some horses had gone over it and broke the scabbard. The Hague
is a most neat place in all respects. The houses so neat in all places
and things as is possible. Here we walked up and down a great while, the
town being now very full of Englishmen, for that the Londoners were come
on shore today. But going to see the Prince,--[Prince of Orange,
afterwards William III.]--he was gone forth with his governor, and so we
walked up and down the town and court to see the place; and by the help of
a stranger, an Englishman, we saw a great many places, and were made to
understand many things, as the intention of may-poles, which we saw there
standing at every great man's door, of different greatness according to
the quality of the person. About 10 at night the Prince comes home, and
we found an easy admission. His attendance very inconsiderable as for a
prince; but yet handsome, and his tutor a fine man, and himself a very
pretty boy. It was bright moonshine to-night. This done we went to a
place we had taken to sup in, where a sallet and two or three bones of
mutton were provided for a matter of ten of us which was very strange.
After supper the Judge and I to another house, leaving them there, and he
and I lay in one press bed, there being two more in the same room, but all
very neat and handsome, my boy sleeping upon a bench by me.

15th. We lay till past three o'clock, then up and down the town, to see
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